Month: October 2016

Most Downtown bars and restaurants throw their Halloween party the Saturday before, but Mollie Fontaine’s does not – they throw it on the actual day. Which is today. Mollie’s Halloween party happens tonight at 679 Adams from 8 PM to 3 AM. $10 cover, 21 and up with ID. DJs A.D. and Jordan Rogers will provide the music.

Also tonight is Rock the Brass Door presented by AIRSIDE. Four artists will bring the live music beginning at 7 PM. $10 cover, or $5 if you’re wearing a costume.

The South Main Association usually has its meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, but this month that’s Election Day. So they have moved the date to Tuesday, November 15 at the Century House at 151 Vance, a beautifully restored event space and home on Film Row. The meeting starts at 6 PM and candidates for the 2017 SMA board will be elected.

“Do Good with Food,” or as many South Mainers refer to it, “The annual Marcy party,” will happen noon to 3 PM Sunday November 13 at Bleu Restaurant in the Westin. Marcy Siebert’s annual event will feature a buffet brunch, music by Pam & Terry, and free valet parking. $30 with the net proceeds being donated to the Mid-South Food Bank. Donations of nonperishable proteins are welcome. This event is sponsored by DNA with the support of SMA.

The opening reception for Memphis Minimalism will take place Saturday, November 12 on the second floor of 600 Monroe. Artists Stephanie Wexler, Jon W Sparks, Joey Miller, Houston Cofield & Tim Barker will have their work on display, photography capturing the iconic and lonesome while grounding itself in Memphis’ urban and rural landscapes. When you visit the exhibitition, be sure to pick up a token for one free pint of beer at High Cotton next door. Free street parking is available on Monroe.

The premiere of Obscura will happen at Mollie Fontaine Lounge on Saturday, November 26 from 9 PM to 3 AM. This will bring a new kind of life to the building’s manor halls: a Gothic kind of life. The evening will delight the senses with a variety of sights, sounds and tastes. There is a $5 cover and the event is 21 and up.

It’s not a Downtown event, but I wanted to mention that Broad Avenue Art Walk happens this Friday evening. My BBQ teammate and very talented artist Sarah Dalesandro will have a booth there selling her oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings. Sarah was the lead artist behind the Moody Ques’ 2014 booth design honoring Panama that won Best Booth at BBQ Fest.

Happy Halloween! My plans for tonight are yet to be determined. I also have yet to decide whether I will put the jailbird outfit back on. It’s kind of a pain, but on the other hand the costume was very well received when I wore it Saturday. There’s pizza in the break room so I gotta go. Back tomorrow.

Thanks to the organizers of Sinners for Saints Halloween Ball II for another fantastic party last night at Stop 345! I found my old Monopoly set and pulled the Get Out of Jail Free card which allowed me to attend the party. I had forgotten how much energy the Super 5 bring, and of course it was a treat to see Charvey Mac in the back room. By the way, if you missed seeing Charvey at the party, you can catch him every Wednesday at 10 at the Silly Goose.

Unfortunately I did not make it late into the evening. You know what’s a really bad idea? Drinking beer all day long and then switching to liquor at 9:30 PM. There were Jello shots galore and I found the gummy worms and got a cup of them. We all know that’s a mistake. Then I discovered that my friend Mary was working the back bar. “We don’t have PBR,” she told me, so I decided to drink the punch instead. By about the fourth cup of punch I was in la la land! Apparently the punch they served was not Hawaiian punch that you can buy in two-liter bottles at Kroger.

I found myself standing around bored at times. “I’m basically the only one of my friend group here who isn’t an organizer of this party,” I thought. Hey guys, if you need someone to sit around and drink PBR while you work on the details of the party for 2017, let me know. If you need references I’ll give you the BBQ team’s email address.

Got a couple of insider tips for my readers based on things that happened yesterday morning. The Farmers Market invited kids young and old alike to wear their Halloween costumes, and with unseasonably warm weather for late October I decided to take them up on it. I wanted to visit the So Fresh juice truck so I could be the bad, bad man with a Smoothie in his hand, but the truck wasn’t there. So here’s my first insider tip: As you walk into the market from the main entrance, the second booth on the left is an Italian ice and frozen pop vendor. The key lime frozen pops are SO good. I had two of them!

My second insider tip is for my vegetarian friends. After the Farmers Market I was sitting at the bar at Earnestine & Hazel’s sipping a PBR, and a couple down the bar from me ordered their first-ever Soul Burgers. Clarence had the onions on the grill, preparing enough for an entire day’s worth of burgers. He told the couple that he can make a version of the Soul Burger without meat. “I use all the same ingredients, the warmed bun, the mayonnaise, mustard, pickle, cheese,” he told them. “But instead of a meat patty I put extra, extra onions on there.” I will never order a meatless Soul Burger but I have to admit that does not sound bad at all. I sure wouldn’t want to kiss anyone who just got done eating that sandwich though!

If anyone is looking for a job, I saw a sign that said Maggie Moo’s is hiring. My GOP friends may want to forward that information along to party chairman Reince Priebus, who I suspect will be job hunting sometime soon after November 8.

I want to thank Circuitous Succession for their hospitality Friday night. I went there for the PBR Art exhibit and I checked out their regular collection as well. Everyone there was so friendly and down-to-earth. In addition to art shows, the gallery has yoga as well.

Freewheel’s final Slow Ride through the Medical Center District happens this Wednesday, November 2, at 6 PM. It is free to join and the ride is relaxed and a chance to get familiar with the area that would not be possible if you toured it by car. The ride will depart at 600 Monroe, next door to High Cotton, and you can arrive early for a discounted pint at the brewery.

The title of this post is making me think maybe I should create a Merle Haggard Pandora station. That would not be a bad thing at all. I remember when The Dempseys used to do their cities & states medley of songs… the band would always look at me when they got to “Okie from Muskogee” because I always drew a square with my hands in the air to the line “a place where even squares can have a ball.”

Wow. Arkansas, Memphis, and Tennessee all have games in the 2:30-3:00 time frame next Saturday. Max’s Sports Bar is going to be just stupid packed.

Time for my weekly trip to Sunday school! B-RAD’s topic this week is “PBR is proof that Jesus loves us.” Yay Jesus. That’s it for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with more news.

The Beale Street Holiday Parade has been announced for Saturday, December 3 from 4 to 5 PM. For newcomers to Downtown Memphis, the first Saturday in December is always a huge day with many events (some would say too many) happening within a 24 hour span. The day kicks off early in the morning with the St. Jude Marathon. The parade happens in the afternoon. As if the bars weren’t already crowded enough with people post-gaming the marathon and pre-gaming the parade, it’s SEC Championship Game Day which fills ’em up even more. That evening at 7 the Grizzlies host the Lakers. Also at 7 that evening the Stumbling Santa Pub Crawl begins at the Flying Saucer, attracting over 1200 Santas. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats play the New Daisy at 8. My advice is, figure out in advance what you want to do on December 3. Allow extra, extra travel time if you are driving Downtown, especially in the morning when the marathon is ongoing.

It’s funny… I get questions all the time about, “Paul, when are the trolleys coming back?” I thought I would finally have an answer to pass along when my weekly High Ground News email showed up in my inbox and one of the headlines was “Trolleys on Track for 2017 Comeback.” But when I clicked on the link, I got “Server error in ‘/’ application.” Nothing against the excellent High Ground News, but that was just SO appropriate for a news story from any source discussing the return of the trolleys.

(By the way, as a web developer, I recognized an ASP.NET error when I saw it.)

The Memphis Redbirds have unveiled their season membership packages for 2017. There are full, half, and quarter membership packages available, and all three include the “Battle of the Birds” (March 30 St. Louis Cardinals vs. the Redbirds) game. Season members also receive other perks, such as a St. Louis Cardinals ticket voucher for the 2017 season, guaranteed gate giveaways, priority for playoff and special event tickets, and the opportunity to watch a fireworks show and batting practice from field level.

There are also two mini-memberships available, each consisting of five games plus the Battle of the Birds. Both packages include Opening Day April 11 and multiple fireworks nights. Visit the Redbirds website to learn more about seasonal and mini membership packages. To learn more about the Battle of the Birds, go here.

America has another pro-wrestler-turned-politican, this one running for the Michigan House of Representatives. However, this is not a retired wrestler as Jesse “The Body” Ventura was when he ran for the governorship of Minnesota. Current WWE Smackdown tag team champion Rhyno is on the campaign trail, having won the Republican primary for the seat by 56 votes.

A new social network has come out of beta. Many people find outlets like Reddit and Twitter too much to handle. There’s a comparison to the Wild West, where fights break out and everyone speaks at the top of their lungs. Imzy is a network for people who want to keep discourse civil, where people can discuss their common interests in a warm and gentle online environment. Kinda sounds like a network those who attend the Civil Pour events at Loflin Yard would enjoy. Trolls are not welcome on Imzy, but when they do show up, those on the network try to kill the trolls with kindness, or at least that’s the hope. Don’tcha just hate those crazy trolls?

Want to win a Madison Hotel getaway? The package includes a King Suite, a dining voucher to eighty3, drinks at eighty3 or Twilight Sky Terrace, and valet parking. All you have to do is stop by Twilight Sky Terrace on the rooftop of the Madison anytime today through Halloween, take a photo on the terrace of yourself in your Halloween costume, and post your pic tagged with the hashtag #TwilightHalloween. There is no cost to enter, and the winner will be determined by the number of likes and shares.

Time to hit Publish and get the scissors out. I need to cut pocket holes in the pants of my Halloween costume so that I will have easy access to my phone, money, ID, etc. in the pockets of the shorts I will be wearing underneath. “That guy who’s constantly reaching inside his pants” is not a good look, even at a Halloween party. I hope I don’t ruin the costume with the scissors. When I bought the entire thing – shirt, pants and an accessory – on Amazon for $19.95 I’m not exactly expecting durable fabric.

I hope to see you tonight! Suggestion for my friends attending Sinners for Saints Halloween Ball II – if you do any grocery shopping today, ask for extra ones back at the cash register so you’ll have tip money for the people handing you beer, wine, specialty drinks, and craft Jello shots at the party. Happy Halloween Eve Eve!

Last day of the fall season when the historical normal high for Memphis is at or above 80: October 1

Number of days so far this month when the actual high for Memphis has been at or above 80: 20, counting today, and the final 3 days of the month are expected to see mid-80s for highs. I guess you can say we exceeded expectations here this month.

Sunday is Breast Cancer Awareness Night with the Grizzlies. They play the Washington Wizards at FedExForum at 7 that night. If you buy tickets here part of the proceeds come back to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

An Evening with Geoff Calkins, in support of the sportswriter’s recently-released book After the Jump, will happen Tuesday, November 1 on the Club Level of AutoZone Park. There will be drinks and hors d’oeuvres at 6:30, with a reading from the book and a talk by Geoff at 7. The event is brought to you by Burke’s Books.

If you’re a Downtowner who uses Nextdoor (Bruce VanWyngarden from the Memphis Flyer’s favorite app), they have created a treat map for Halloween so that you know where your kids will be safe and welcomed for trick-or-treating Monday night.

The organizers of Sinners for Saints Halloween Ball II have released a few of the flavors of Hipner’s craft Jello shots that will be served at the party tomorrow night: Pumpkin Pie, Fireball and Cider, Vodka & Red Bull, and Moscow Mule. They’ll also have specialty drinks and “zombified” gummy worms (oh God, those get me in trouble every year at BBQ Fest). $40 with proceeds going to the Church Health Center. Tickets haven’t sold out yet but today may be the day.

(Full disclosure as required by the FTC: The party organizers contacted me yesterday afternoon and told me I have a free ticket. But keep in mind I have been promoting the event on here for weeks with no expectation of being given one. I’m an independent blogger and I only promote things I believe in.)

Got some advice for you. If you’re planning a trip to a city you have never visited before, use Google StreetView to explore the city in advance, before you make your hotel reservations. Let me share a story with you so you’ll understand why.

In 1999 a few weeks after I got done teaching my spring semester classes, I took a trip west to Phoenix, San Diego, and L.A. In Phoenix I stayed with a friend near Camelback Mountain and I liked the city a lot. In San Diego I stayed in Point Loma and LOVED it, walking across the Ingraham Blvd. bridge to Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.

However, I HATED L.A. The reason why is that when I booked a hotel room, I used streets I had heard of on TV to pick a hotel. “There’s an Econo Lodge at Melrose and Vine,” I thought. Melrose Place at the time was one of the most popular shows on TV. And everyone has heard of Vine from the corner of Hollywood and Vine a few miles to the north. So, I thought, Melrose and Vine must be a nice neighborhood.

Was I ever wrong. Oh my God I thought I was in a third world country. I saw every ethnicity of people except American. I came home at 8:00 the only night I was there (I shortened my stay in L.A. from three days to one) because I was scared to be out after dark.

One of my favorite ways to pass the time lately has been to pick a city, pick a street, and walk it virtually using Google StreetView. My most recent street has been Vermont Avenue in L.A. I plopped my little yellow StreetView guy down at 83rd and Vermont in South Central, and started walking north on Vermont. I saw the hood, the USC area, Koreatown, and the touristy area around Sunset Boulevard with lots of hotels.

Then I got north of Hollywood Blvd. and discovered a super cool neighborhood – Los Feliz. Lots of bookstores, lots of dive bars, lots of character. It reminded me of Midtown Memphis but much more condensed. And walkable. The Missing Persons must not have visited that neighborhood before they claimed that nobody walks in L.A. If I ever go to L.A. again, that is where I want to stay. I never in a million years would have discovered it without StreetView.

If anyone has suggestions for what city and street to drop Streetview Man next, let me know at paul@paulryburn.com or hit me up on Facebook.

That’ll do it for now. Already got news in the pipeline for Saturday. I’ll hit the Silly Goose briefly after work, then south to check out that PBR Art exhibit.

As most of my readers know, I am a huge fan of fresh produce, which is why I visit the Memphis Farmers Market most every Saturday. However, the Market season ends November 19; what to do after then? Never fear, Bring It Food Hub is here! The hub has announced its Deep Winter Subscription for the January 10-March 3 time period. Subscribers will get a weekly $20 bag of local produce and grains. Don’t worry, it won’t just be 8 bags of kale! The Memphis area has a relatively warm winter climate, allowing farmers to produce diverse crops including onion scallions, kale, collards, parsley, cilantro, swiss chard, carrots, radishes, beets, head lettuce, salad mix, arugula, bok choi, turnips, cauliflower, celery, spinach, and broccoli.

You can also add on items including eggs, bread, cheese, and coffee. The hub also offers a meat subscription through Marmilu Farms. Another purchase you can make is a Pay It Forward Bag that allows the hub to donate fresh, local produce to those experiencing food insecurity. Visit www.bringitfoodhub.com to learn more.

Halloween on the Island happens Monday, October 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. This is a great place to take the kids for Halloween, as Mud Island River Park gets a spooky makeover for the day. There will be trick-or-treating on the River Walk, costume contests, Sparkman the Magician, mini train rides, hay rides, and games. $5 per person entry includes a ride over to the park on the monorail.

A permit application shows new images of what the developers of Old Dominick Distillery want the place to look like on the inside and out. The distillery will open on South Front in the Front Street Chicken District (credit @Kerry901 for the name) in 2017.

The High Cotton taproom has announced specials now through Sunday. $3.50 pints of Oktoberfest, $8 growler fills of Oktoberfest, and kill the keg all day Saturday. Seems like they really want to get rid of their Oktoberfest before the end of October! Is this a brewery superstition, like it’s bad luck to still have your Christmas tree up on January 1?

Do you have dozens of kids knocking on your door every October 31 trick-or-treating? Do you wish you didn’t? The Memphis Farmers Market can help with that! At the Market you can pick up fresh squash, tomatoes, and peppers to put in trick-or-treaters’ bags. Do that and you will soon develop a reputation as “that weird house where they hand out vegetables instead of candy” and all the kids will skip you in 2017.

Kids: There’s something at the Farmers Market for you too! Is there already a house on the block where people hand out healthy snacks (or crap like toothpaste, dental floss, etc. There was a house like that when I was a kid) instead of candy? Shop the Market for farm-fresh eggs to throw at that house late at night!

Goblin Goodies is the theme at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday, October 29. Kids and adults alike are invited to give everyone a preview of their Halloween costumes at the Market. Be sure to get your picture taken, and the winner (who will be notified by email) will get $10 in market tokens!

For the kids, trick-or-treat stations can be found around the Market tomorrow. They can also create a Pumpkin Patch scene or a trick-or-treat bag at the crafts booth.

Live music at Saturday’s market will include Andrew Cabigao 8:30-10:00, Amaris 10:00-11:00, and Amber Dunn 11:00-12:30. Nonproft Donate Life America will be there from 8:00 to 12:30, providing information to help increase the number of donated organs, eyes and tissue available for transplant to help save and heal lives. The Market happens every Saturday through November 19 7 AM-1 PM under the pavilion at the corner of Front and G.E. Patterson.

The schedule has been released for Saturday night’s Sinners for Saints Halloween Ball II, which I will say once again is the BEST Halloween party in Downtown Memphis, drawing nearly a thousand people. It is also a great way to help others, because all proceeds from the party benefit the Church Health Center. Tickets are nearing a sellout, so if you like what you see below, go ahead and purchase yours. It’s very possible there will not be any tickets left by Saturday!

In the main room, Super Brad kicks things off from 9:00 to 10:00. The Super 5 take over from 10:00 to midnight, and at midnight it is time for the costume contest. Around 12:30 after the contest is over, The Dead Soldiers will perform. I don’t think I’ve heard The Dead Soldiers since the opening of the High Cotton taproom over two years ago!

In the back at Tad’s Indoor Trailer Park and Voodoo Lounge, Charvey Mac will play 10:00 to midnight, with a costume karaoke contest at 12:30. Ongoing throughout the evening will be the Amurica photo booth (9:00-1:00) and fortune tellers (9:00-midnight). I’m always down for some Charvey so I’ll be in the back for a while from 10 to 12.

The costume karaoke contest will be limited to 25 participants. Costumes are not required, but will be considered as part of your performance. First song choice is up to you. Lil’ Eggroll will choose five semi-finalists, who will perform a second song selected by the “Wheel of Death.” Crowd applause will select the two finalists, who will be able to pick their own final song selection. Crowd applause will determine the winner.

If you want to get started on your Halloween celebration even earlier, go down to the most haunted location in Downtown Memphis, Earnestine & Hazel’s, tonight from 9 to 11 for a performance by the South Side Supper Club.

Art 101.2 happens tonight at 101 S. Main from 6 to 8. This will be a reception highlighting local artists Amelia Briggs, Birdcap, Chloe York, and Felipe. There will be live music and complimentary appetizers. Learn more about The 101 here. Email Chris at the101memphis@gmail.com if you have an idea, programming, or pop-up market that might be a good fit for The 101.

Last night I had a great late-night snacking idea that I thought I would pass on. Monday night on the way home, I got a tub of Pancho’s white cheese dip and a bag of Tostitos Scoops. I ate about half of the cheese dip then put the other half in the fridge. Tuesday night I had something else for dinner, then last night I thought, “I don’t have to stop by City Market tonight. I have the leftover cheese dip and chips to eat.”

However, I went back to City Market anyway.

In order to make my snacking more interesting, I bought a red bell pepper and a fresh jalapeno. I cut them into slices and dipped them in the white cheese dip, in addition to the chips. Yum!

A while back The Brass Door had curry night, where you got a bowl of spicy curry along with rice for $10. Yesterday I got an email from Diamond Dave that they’re bringing it back. He is not sure with what frequency it will happen, but it will be back tonight, Thursday, October 27 for sure. Dave cooks the curry in a pressure cooker and (don’t hold me to this) I seem to remember there being two types of curry.

Lawdy Mama’s Blues for the Cure comes to Handy Park tomorrow evening, Friday, October 28 from 6 to 9 PM. Live entertainment by Barbara Blue Band, along with special guest Memphis Women of the Blues who will be throwing a Blues Party to welcome Saturday’s Race for the Cure to Downtown Memphis. Tomorrow is also the day of Chalking in Memphis where you can write the name of a survivor or the name of a loved one lost to breast cancer on Beale. Help Beale Street go Pink!

Look for light shows on the river starting this Friday! Every Friday at 8 Big River Crossing will host light shows on the Harahan Bridge to commemorate holidays and entertain Memphians and Arkansans.

Don’t worry, Justin Timberlake fans: JT will not be going to jail for the election booth selfie he took. Taking photos in the polling area is illegal and punishable by a 30-day jail sentence and a $50 fine. However, Shelby County DA Amy Weirich’s office has said the incident is not under investigation, nor do they plan on using their limited resources to start such an investigation. Good deal. I would’ve thrown a napkin at Weirich if she had proceeded with such a frivolous court matter.

Dedric Lawson has come in at number 38 among NBC Sports’ top 100 college basketball players for this season.

Movie & Pizza Co. on Harbor Town Square has been bought by the owners of Pizza Pro across the river in Marion. The menu will be updated to use fresh crust rather than frozen, and the restaurant will be renamed Bluff City Pizza.

I’ll probably be back later today with a second update, if Farmers Market news for the week hits my mailbox. Off to work for now.

Opening Night entertainment has been announced for tonight’s Grizzlies game at FedExForum. Legendary Memphis rappers 8-Ball and MJG will take the court pre-game for a performance. At halftime, legendary soul performer William Bell will be on stage, backed by the Hi Rhythm Session. From 5 to 7 outside on the plaza there will be pre-game festivities, with face painting, balloon artists, the Grizzline drum section, and Garry Goin and his band (6:00-6:45).

Follow @GrizzliesPR on Twitter, a new account for Grizzlies news, notes, and stats.

For my friends in the service industry who might be looking for a new position, Bass Pro at the Pyramid is hosting a food and beverage job fair Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27, 1 to 5 PM both days. The fair will be in the Trophy Room in Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill. Servers, bussers, food runners, and food and beverage admin are some of the open positions, and there are both full- and part-time opportunities. They are looking for upbeat, positive, team-oriented candidates with great customer service skills. Come dressed to impress, and be sure to bring an updated copy of your resume. Call 901-291-8207 to get in touch with HR or go to www.basspro.com/careers.

Congressman Steve Cohen is hosting his annual Veterans’ Day luncheon at BRIDGES, 477 N. Fifth, from 11 AM to 1 PM Friday, November 11. The Congressman will recognize the service of veterans in his 8th annual luncheon, and will discuss legislation and issues affecting veterans. Caseworkers from Cohen’s office will be on site to provide assistance with government agencies to veterans who need it. Interstate BBQ will be served. RSVP to 901-544-4131 by Wednesday, November 9.

Whoa! Arby’s is taking a stab at a venison sandwich and Tennessee is among the states in which the trial will take place. The sandwiches will be 100% deer meat, with top and bottom round steaks from the hind quarter of the deer.

I’ve learned of a couple more events that will be happening in conjunction with South Main Trolley Night this Friday evening. One is LeMonsters, with monster drawings, crafts, and refreshments at the Hyde Gallery at 477 S. Main. This exhibit features 130 drawings by LeBonheur patients, and reimagined by Memphis College of Art students, faculty, and alumni. One of the monster sculptures is over 8 feet tall.

Meanwhile, over at South Main Book Juggler at 548 S. Main there will be a signing of My Memphis View, a book of photographs by Mary-Ellen Kelly. It’s a keepsake collection of images of the 901.

Save the date: The Mockstrosity Tour comes to The New Daisy Sunday, April 2, 2017. This event will feature Mac Sabbath, Metalachi (the world’s first and only heavy metal mariachi band), and Okilly Dokilly. Tickets are $18-22 and the event is 18 and up.

The Silly Goose has announced their Halloween costume contest for Saturday, October 29. Every 30 minutes from 10 PM to 2 AM, a $100 gift card will be awarded to the bar favorite costume. The event will be hosted by DJ Cody.

Last night was the opening night of the Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians in the World Series. I don’t really have a dog in this hunt but I’m inclined to pull for the Cubs because I have more friends who are Cubs fans, including Max from Max’s Sports Bar. However, I definitely don’t mind what one Indian did last night: Francisco Lindor stole a base, triggering the Steal a Base, Steal a Taco promotion at Taco Bell. On November 2 from 2-6 PM, everyone gets one free Doritos Locos Taco as a result of Lindor’s accomplishment.

It’s opening night! The Grizzlies play the first game of the 2016-17 regular season vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at 7. The first 10,000 fans get a Grind City T-shirt.

Fourth Bluff Friday returns to Memphis Park Friday, October 28 from 4:30 to 9:00. This is the rain date for a Fourth Bluff Friday canceled earlier in the month. Feel free to bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. There will be live music, several food trucks, mobile beer vendor The Tapbox, and games for children and families.

Tickets are now on sale to see famed astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Orpheum on February 13. The evening’s lecture will be titled “An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies.” The lecture will be an entertaining review of movies like Star Wars and Frozen and The Martian, looking at all the science those movies got wrong as well as some they got right. The talk incorporates recent films as well as classics that you may not know had any science at all.

From Memphis Magazine: Chef Ana Gonzalez, a native of Colombia, invigorates Bleu’s menu with Latin flavors and an eye for presentation. Gonzalez is looking to expose her guests to foods they have not previously tried, different ingredients, and different cultures.

In case you haven’t been paying ANY attention to the news the last 24 hours, Justin Timberlake came to Memphis to cast his vote in the general election. Unfortunately, he took a selfie at the voting booth, which is against the law. Is the DA really going to file charges? This is the most BS, unnecessary reason for a court proceeding I have heard in a little over a year.

In other voting news, former Secretary of State Colin Powell has admitted he’s voting for Hillary Clinton. He’s not terribly excited about it, but the alternative is unthinkable. You and I see eye to eye, Mr. Secretary.

We now have an opening date for the Kroger on Union in Midtown: Monday, November 28.

Lineup has been announced for Singer-Songwriter Night #40 at South Main Sounds, 550 S. Main, during Trolley Night on Friday. Faith Ruch, Vanessa Winter and Rusty Graber will join Memphis legend Delta Joe Sanders to provide the live music for you that evening.

Jersey Boys the musical begins its 2016 run at the Orpheum tonight, with shows running through Sunday. The musical is the story of The Four Seasons, who sold 175 million records before any of them turned 30. The band’s hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Oh! What a Night” will be performed. This show did big business when it played here several years ago. Some of my friends enjoyed it so much that they went back and saw it a second time.

Hot Rods on Beale happens tonight from 6 to 10. The American Muscle Car Club and the Perfect Nemesis Car Club will have their autos on display.

Did you know Aldo’s Pizza Pies has a VIP text club? Text ALDOS1 to 51660 to join. Every Friday a member of the text club is selected to receive a $25 gift card.

This morning I asked if any Downtown spots would have the November 8 general election results on. I’ve already learned of one venue. The High Cotton taproom at 598 Monroe will host Vote to #EndAlz Election Night Watch Party that evening from 5 to 9. $10 donation includes your first beer; kids 10 and under get in free. All beers after your first will be discounted. Cash and credit card will be accepted. Learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association, look through silent auction items, and watch the election results. “The candidates may not be our first choice,” reads the Facebook event listing (NO SHIT!!!!), “but we can at least have a drink while we Vote to #ENDALZ.”

The company I work for does a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association every June, and I can tell you this is a GREAT cause to support. Email taproom@highcottonbrewing.com if you have items you would like to donate to the silent auction. Maybe I should donate that gong I won at the Blind Bear final poker table back in 2014. I was going to give it to the BBQ team, but really, what is a BBQ team going to do with a gong? It would just be one more nuisance at load-in and load-out.

Hallowed Be Thy Rave, a frightful dance party of epic proportions, comes to the New Daisy Friday night. 18 and over, tickets $20-35, doors open at 8, music starts at 9. Music includes Lord T & Eloise, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, SKA FACE Al Kapone Music, Chaperone, Crown Vox, The Aristocrunk Sound System, plus special guests The Girls from the Night Before, Lady DooMoi and many more.

Tin Roof is having a Killer Carnival Saturday, October 29 with a costume contest, tattoo booth, drink specials, and live music. The costume contest winner will be announced at 9, so you would have time to do this one and still make it to costume contests elsewhere Downtown. First prize is Grizzlies suite tickets, second prize is a Michelob Ultra bicycle, and third prize is a Tin Roof swag bag.

Weather update from MemphisWeather.net:

I’m going to stop predicting when “really nice” fall will be here. 80° is not bad, but it looks like we stay 10° above avg into early Nov.